Kelly Jerome, Midland Daily News 03/13/2005
A man whose statements called into question the accuracy of University of Michigan dioxin research has retracted his comments and issued an apology.
During a Community Advisory Panel meeting at Freeland Elementary Thursday night James Brasseur told researchers, panelists and around 150 area residents that he had received blood test results but had never had his blood drawn.
Brasseur, of Thomas Township, sent e-mails late Friday which stated his comments were made in error. He said when he received his test results, he did not recall having the test.
Before going to the meeting, Brasseur attempted to make sure he hadn't simply forgotten the testing by calling area labs and asking if his blood was on record. When he did not find his blood at any lab, he assumed his memory was correct.
"What I had forgotten was that the blood draw was done at the Mobile Medical Response building near St. Mary's Hospital," he wrote in the e-mail.
After U-M study leader David Garabrant reminded him where he had the blood drawn, Brasseur, a family physician, remembered the procedure.
"This mind lapse was a serious error on my part, and I apologize to those of us involved in the dioxin question but more of an apology is due to Dr. Garabrant, his crew and the university," he wrote. "Once again, I apologize and hope this letter will reinforce the credibility of Dr. Garabrant and his study."
Brasseur said his erroneous statement was not made to undermine the integrity or validity of the U-M study. He said he is in favor of the study and looks forward to getting his house dust and soil sample results.
"I never dreamed it would drop a bomb like it did," he said.
Brasseur said he honestly believed Garabrant's team had made a mistake.
"I just thought that somebody should know what had happened," he said. "It was a bummer of a mistake."
Even before Brasseur discovered his error, Garabrant was positive his team had not made any mistakes while sorting and delivering test results.
"We do not believe we made an error," he said after the Thursday meeting. "We put a tremendous amount of effort into ensuring that our results are right and that they are mailed to the correct people."
©Midland Daily News 2005
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